Douglas B. Reeves
As the ESEA reauthorization continues its crawl through Congress, some parents have begun to wonder what it might mean for them and their kids. They've heard Washington technocrats debating "adequate yearly progress"; they've heard the lofty anthems of President Bush vowing to "leave no child behind"; and they've heard the cries of some teachers (and parents) protesting the evils of "drill and kill." What is the reality? In Crusade in the Classroom, published amazingly fast this summer by Simon and Schuster and the Stanley Kaplan test-prep company, Douglas Reeves offers an explanation. This useful primer on George W. Bush's education reforms explains in plain language the key themes that have begun to take hold in American K-12 education - accountability, standards, testing, and choice. The guide is mostly supportive of these ideas, though Reeves also raises (and responds to) the objections of critics. Though not even the speediest publisher can keep up with the continuing mischief Congress is doing to the original Bush plan, Crusade in the Classroom may nonetheless be informative to curious or concerned parents. In addition to explaining broad education reform concepts, it offers discussions of special education and homeschooling, a sample letter of inquiry to school officials about school choice, and useful lists of online resources. You can order it from your favorite purveyor of books, or find out more (and order directly from Kaplan) at www.kaptest.com/crusadeintheclassroom.
